Bag closure



H. H. ALLEN Aug. 7, 1956 BAG CLOSURE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 12, 1 950 INVENTOR. HENRY H. A1. L EN BY Wm EY'J ATT RN H. H. ALLEN BAG CLOSURE Aug. 7, 1956 2 Shee ts-Sheet 2 Filled Oct. 12,1950

A-r-roR'NE Y6 United States Patent Bro. Bag Co., Minneapolis, Minn., a corporation of Missouri Application October 12, 1950, Serial No. 189,809 '11 Claims. (Cl. 229-62) This invention relates to multiple ply bags of the gusseted type and particularly to improvements in the end closure thereof which is used either for forming the closed end of the bag during bag manufacture or for closing a filled bag or for both purposes.

In multiple ply bags of the gusseted type the infolding at each bag edge results in a multiplication by four (4) of the number of thicknesses of material at the gusseted edges. Thus, for each ply, after it is formed into a tubular structure and infolded to form a gusset, the number of ply thicknesses at the gusset edge is one thickness for each face of the fiat bag tube plus two thicknesses additional as a result of the infold. Accordingly, at each infolded gusseted edge of the flat tubular structure there are four thicknesses of material for each ply that is used in the bag construction. In multiple ply bags it is not uncommon to utilize three, four or more plies. Thus, a four-ply gusseted bag when flat has sixteen thicknesses of material at each infolded (gusseted) edge. e

This multiplication of material thickness is of no particular disadvantage where the bag closure is by simple stitching or adhesion of the plies without folding, but where it is desired to form an end closure by folding over the end of the bag and attaching the fold by adhesive tape, stitching or otherwise, the corners of the bag become bulky and the fold is not well made because the total number of thicknesses of material is again doubled by reason of the end closure fold. Thus, as previously shown in a 4-ply bag there are 16 thickneses of material at the infolded gussets before the bag is closed, and when this 16-thickness portion is again folded over as a whole for closure, the corners of the thus closed bag have a total of 32 thicknesses of material. This is for a 4-ply bag. A greater or lesser number of plies produce a proportionately greater or lesser number of thicknesses at the corners, as can easily be calculated.

It is an object of the invention to provide an improved multiple ply bag of the infolded or gusseted type closure which reduces the number of thicknesses of material at the corners when same is closed.

It is another object of the invention to provide an improved multiple ply bag end closure having a reduced number of plies at the corners thereof.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an improved multiple ply gusseted bag capable of being closed by end fold and having a minimized number of thicknesses of material at the corners thereof when closed.

It is another object of the invention to provide an improved multiple ply gusseted bag and end closure therefor with improved adhesive tape reinforcement and folded closure cover.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an improved multiple ply gusseted bag capable'of being closed by an end fold of reduced thickness at the corners of the thus-closed bag, the said fold being held in folded condition by stitching.

Other and further objects of the invention are those inherent in the apparatus herein illustrated, described and claimed.

The invention is illustrated with reference to the drawings in which corresponding numerals refer to the same parts and in which Figure l is an isometric view of one end of an opened bag of the infolded gusset type, said bag being of the two-ply type and constructed in accordance with the in stant invention;

Figure 2 is likewise an isometric view corresponding to Figure 1 showing a two-ply bag constructed in accordance with the invention and the bag plies brought together preparatory to end closure by folding over;

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary isometric view of one corner portion of the bag shown in Figures 1 and 2 after the bag has been folded over as a step in the closing operation. In Figure 3 the view is shown on an enlarged scale;

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary isometric view corresponding to Figure 3 showing a further step in the closure of the bag, the folded over portion of the bag being protected by an adhesively applied and infolded tape;

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken along the line and in the direction of arrows 55 of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a sectional view corresponding to Figure 5, except that it is taken along the line and in the direction of arrows 6-6 of Figure 4;

Figure 7 is a horizontal sectional view taken along the line and in the direction of arrows 7-7 of Figure 4;

Figure 8 is an enlarged fragmentary isometric view of a bag top showing a closure made in accordance with a modification of the instant invention, illustrating particularly a ripping string therefor;

Figure 9 is an end view of the bag shown in Figure 4, when relaxed, or Figure 8 showing an infolded type of adhesive strip over the folded-over bag closure end;

Figure 10 is an isometric view of the upper portion showing the closure of a bag in accordance with a modified form of the invention;

Figure 11 is an isometric view of the upper portion of a bag closed in accordance with the invention and showing another modification thereof;

Figure 12 is an enlarged fragmentary isometric view of an upper corner of a bag constructed in accordance with the present invention and showing four plies in the bag wall;

Figure 13 is an enlarged fragmentary isometric view of a corner of a closed bag wherein the folded over bag closure is protected and held in closed position by stitching.

Referring to the drawings, particularly to Figure 1 et seq., the bag generally designated 10 in this instance is composed of two plies generally designated 11 and 12. The plies are in tubular form and are flat folded so as to have a back portion 11A and a front portion 11B of the same ply, which is the outer ply of the bag. Likewise, there is provided a back portion 12A of the inner ply which is folded so as to lie fiat against the front portion 12B of the same ply. In accordance with the present invention the bag may be constructed of any number of plies greater than two, the usual commercial bags being either two, three or four ply, depending upon the service to which the bag is subjected. In Figure 1 two plies only have been illustrated for simplicity. The plies are shown as single lines in the drawings, except in Figures 5, 6 and 7.

In accordance with the invention the two plies 11 and 12 constituting the bag are infolded so as to form a gusset at 13 at one edge of the bag and another gusset 14 at the opposite edge of the bag. This infolded type of bag construction is well known and as a result of such infolding, the number of ply thicknesses which thus results throughout the width W of the gusset is equal to four times the number of plies forming the bag wall. Thus, it will be readily understood that in the illustrated form of bag in Figure 1 throughout the width W of the gusset 13 and also throughout the width W of the gusset 14, the number of plies of material that are present from the front surface F of the bag to the rear surface R of the bag is a total of eight plies at each gusseted edge due to the infolding. correspondingly if the bag was a threeply construction, there would be twelve ply thicknesses throughout the gusseted portion of the bag, and likewise if four plies were used there would be a total of 16 thicknesses.

In accordance with this invention one or more of the outer plies of the bag are provided with a notch at the corner of the ply. Thus, throughout the width W of the gussets in the bag there is provided a notch which extends down from the end of the bag a distance D approximately equal to the amount of the end of the bag which it is desired to fold over during closure. In the bag shown in Figure 1 there are only twoplies and accordingly the outer ply 11 is notched down beginning at the corner and extending down along line 17 parallel to the gusseted edge, to the corner 16 and thence along line 18 parallel to the end of the bag to the edge 20. The notched portion continues along the line 21 into the gusset and thence along the line 22 out of the gusset to the corner 23 and thence along the line 25, parallel to the end of the bag, to the corner 26 and thence along the line 27 which is parallel to the gusseted edge of the bag to the corner 28. The lines 18, 21, 22 and are all the same distances from the end of the bag when the bag is folded flat so as to close the gusset. Likewise, the lines 17 and 27 overlie when the bag is flat in folded condition. A similar notch generally designated 30 is provided in the outer ply of the bag at the opposite gusset 14.

It is to be understood that where the bag has a multiple number of plies, such as three plies, it is feasible to notch the corners for the exemplary distances shown of either the outer ply only or the outer two plies. Likewise, in four-ply bags it is usually desirable to notch the outer two plies and leave the inner two plies unnotchcd. Thus, in Fi ure l the inner ply 12 is left in its original condition, the outer ply 11 being notched, as illustrated.

The line 25 of the notch for gusset 13 extends along the folding line of the bag at 32 and when the bag is desired to be closed, the plies are all brought together as shown in Figure 2, after which the end portion of the bag between the folding line 32 and the ends of the bag are folded over to the position shown in Figure 3.

In Figure 3 it will be noted that the portion 11A of the back outer ply overlies the portion 12A of the inner ply back portion and that these two when folded over both overlie the front face portion of the inner ply and the front portion 11B of the outer ply. The thickness of the fold causes the edges 33, 34, 35 and 36 to fall slightly out of line with each other and thus when in the folded over condition they produce a slanted surface which is best illustrated at the line 37-38 of Figure 5 where the thickness of the various plies is shown exaggerated in section.

After the fold has been made in the end of the bag during manufacture or the folding operation, there is applied a tape 40 which may be an adhesive tape or may be a strip of paper that is adhesively secured to the outer surface of the folded over end of the bag. The tape is I made of sufficient width so that it extends from a level 41 on the back surface 11A of the outer ply, thence up and over the folded over plies at the curved portion 42 and thence down along the surface 44 (which is the exposed portion 11A of the rear ply which now overlies the remaining plies) and thence along the slanting surface 3738 as previously described and finally into contact at 45 with the exposed front portion 11B of the outer ply. Adhesive between the protective strip 40 and the folded over ends of the plies and the adjacent end portions of the outer ply serve to hold the folded end in folded condition.

Referring to Figures 3 and 6, particularly, it will be noted that the corner portion of the bag shown in these drawings when folded over has a transverse section, as shown in Figure 6. Thus, it will be noted that the rear surface of the outside ply is present at 11A, Whereas the front surface of the same outside ply is at 113. Likewise, the rear surface of the inner ply is shown at 12A and the front surface of the inner ply at 12B. The infolded portions of these same plies forming the gussets are also illustrated. Thus, the infolded portion of the inner ply is shown at 12C, adjacent the rear part of the bag, whereas the infolded portion of the inner ply adjacent the front part of the bag is shown at 12D and the infolded portion of the outer ply adjacent the rear part of the bag is shown at 11C and the infolded portion of the outer ply adjacent the front part of the bag at 11D. Accordingly, for a two-ply bag it will be observed that there are eight thicknesses of material at the gusset edge. However, as previously described, the outer ply is notched down along the lines 18, 21, 22 and 25 and these lines are approximately level with the line 32 along which the bag is folded. Accordingly, the portions of the bag which are folded over, throughout the width of the gusset are only those four thicknesses, namely 12A, 12B, 12C and 12D. It will be understood that the thickness of the plies is much exaggerated in Figure 6 for clarity and that in an actual bag structure the actual thickness at the gusset is not substantially greater than the folded over end of the unnotchcd portion of the bag which lies between the gussets as in Figure 5. In any event the thickness of the folded over end portion of the bag at the gussets where the outer ply or plies are notched is very substantially reduced as compared with a fold where the plies are not notched.

In Figures 4, 6, 7, 8 and 9 there is illustrated the manner in which the tape 40 is infolded into the gusset at either corner of the bag. Thus, it will be observed that the tape 40 is infolded at 48 and 49 and is adhesively secured to the infolded surfaces 11C and 11D of the outer ply. This infolding serves to cover over the corners of the bag and renders the bag very strong at the corners as well as attractive in appearance. The gusset of the bag is free to spring out below the fold, as shown in Figure 9.

Referring to Figure 8 particularly, there is illustrated the manner in which a ripping string or cord may be applied under the tape 40 so as to facilitate ready opening of the bag. The tape 40 in Figure 8 is provided with an aperture at 50 at some point along the width of the bag and preferably at about the middle of that side of the bag to which the upper end of the bag is folded during closure. Thus, by inserting a string 51 along the exposed edges of the folded over plies along the surface 37 and 38 of Figures 5 and 6, the string can be caused to lie adjacent the edges of the folded over plies and the ends of the string are then tucked around into the infold as at 51 and 52 and secured therein by the infolded adhesively attached tape 40. A loop 53 of the string is permitted to hang out of the opening 50 so that when it is desired to open the bag it is only necessary to pull on the loop 53 i which causes the string to tear out of the adhesively attached tape 40 along the string line 54A54B, the string ultimately assuming the position shown in the dot-dash line of Figure 8 where the tape 40 is substantially severed. When this occurs it is easily possible then to lift up the folded edges of the plies forming the bag closure to gain access to the bag.

In Figures 10 and 11 there is illustrated another form of closure wherein the tape 60 is placed over the folded part of the bag during closure but instead of infolding the ends of the tape, as shown in Figures 4, 7, 8 and 9, the

ends of the tape at 61 and 62 are simplybrought into overlying relation and adhesively fastened. This form of closure is very simple to make and has advantages where appearance is not a prime requisite. In Figure 11 the same form of tape protection is provided as in Figure 10, except that the tape 60 is provided with a ripping string 63 which protrudes through an aperture 64 in the tape 60 along one face of the end closure. The ends of the string 65-66 are adhesively secured between the adhesively attached folded portions of the tape at 61 and 62. When it is desired to open the bag it is only necessary to pull on the string loop 67 and this causes a ripping of the tape to facilitate opening of the bag as described with reference to Figure 8.

In Figure 12 there is illustrated the form of bag wherein four plies 71, 72, 73 and 74 are utilized in the structure of the bag. In this figure these plies are not shown in section because it would unduly complicate the drawings to do so. It will be observed, however, that at the gusseted portion of the bag and adjacent the corner that the two outer plies 71 and 72 are cut down as at 75 and 76, the corner notch thus formed being continued along the infolded portions 77 and 78, 79 and 80, and around the front of the bag at 81 and 82. Thus, in this four-ply bag the two outer plies are notched with a rectangular notch at the corner as illustrated, whereas the two inner plies 73 and 74 are of normal length extending out to the corner adjacent the infold. Figure 12 also illustrates how with a four-ply bag the number of ply thicknesses at the infold amounts to a total of sixteen. At the corner of the infold this total is reduced to only eight which are the thicknesses provided by the infolded inner two plies 73 and 74. The folding of the bag in Figure 12 is at approximately the horizontal line of the notch of the outer ply or plies. Thus, the fold occurs at the line 90-90 when the back and front faces of the bag are brought into juxtaposition during manufacture of the bag or during closure.

For some types of closure where heavy materials and ply thickness are utilized, the folded over portion of the bag may be held in folded condition by means of stitching. Thus, as shown in Figure 13 the folded over portion of the bag at 95 may, if desired, be covered by a sheet of protective material at 96, and the folded over portion of the bag and the protective material 96, where used, is then held by the line of stitching 97. This serves to hold the bag in closed condition. The top of the bag may be folded over at 95 and simply stitched in folded condition without the folded on protective strip 96, where desired, and the strip may be infolded into the gusset as at 96A or allowed to extend as at 96B. However, for best appearance and for better wear the protective sheet 96 is applied and is stitched in place, thus forming the bag closure. Thus, in Figure 13 the left end of the figure shows how the strip 96, where used, may be extended beyond the corner of the bag, while the right end shows how the strip can be infolded into the gusset. In the middle portion of Figure 13, the strip 96 is eliminated completely and the fold merely stitched to hold it in folded condition. Thus, in Figure 13 are shown three variations in the construction, any of which may be used for the bag closure.

As many apparently widely different embodiments of this invention may be made without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the specific embodiments herein.

What I claim is:

1. A multiple wall bag having at least two plies, said plies being infolded to form opposed gussets which are joined by extending walls, said bag having a closed end and an open end, said bag being constructed so as to be folded over at the open end for closure thereof, said bag when in the unclosed condition being further characterized in that at last one outside ply thereof has rectangular notches positioned on each of said extending walls and extending inwardly towards the center thereof from the edges'formed by the juncture of said gussets with said extending walls a distance approximately equal to the width of the gussets when the bag is in flat condition, said notches having a dimension from the open end of the bag approximately equal to the amount of the bag which is folded over during closure thereof.

2. In a multiple ply tubular bag structure in which the tube is infolded at opposite sides to form gussets joined by extending walls said bag having a closed end and an open end, said bag being constructed so as to be folded over at said open end for closure thereof, the improvement which comprises a pair of opposed notches located in a fraction of the total number of said plies of the tube, said notches each extending throughout the width of a respective gusset and through a contiguous area on each of said extending walls equivalent to the width of said gussets, said notches having a dimension longitudinally of the bag from said open end of the tubular bag structure a distance sufiicient such that the portion of said notched plies between said notches, together with said unnotched plies can be folded over and secured for bag closure.

3. In a multiple ply tubular bag structure having a closed end and an open end in which the tube is infolded at opposite portions to form gussets joined by extending walls, the improvement comprising a pair of approximately rectangular notches located in a fraction of the total number of said plies, said notches each extending throughout the width of a respective infolded gusset along a line transversely of the bag and from the edges formed by the juncture of said gussets and extending Walls toward the center line of the bag throughout a portion of each of said extending walls for approximately the width of the gussets and thence to the open end of the bag, the portion of said notched plies between said notches together with the unnotched plies being folded along said line to form a folded closure, and fastening means for maintaining said folded closure throughout the width of said bag.

4. In a multiple ply tubular bag structure having a closed end and an open end in which the tube is infolded at opposite portions to form gussets joined by extending walls, the closure comprising a pair of opposed approximately rectangular corner notches located in opposed faces of a fraction of a total number of said plies, said notches each extending throughout the width of a respective infolded gusset along a line transversely of the bag and from the edges formed by the juncture of said gussets and said extending walls toward the center line of the bag for approximately the width of the gussets throughout each of said extending walls and thence to the open end of the bag, the other portion of said notched plies between said notches together with the unnotched plies being folded along said line to form a folded closure, and adhesive securing means for holding said folded closure in said folded condition.

5. In a multiple ply tubular bag structure having a closed end and an open end in which the tube is infolded at opposite portions to form gussets joined by extending walls, the closure comprising a pair of opposed approximately rectangular corner notches located in opposed faces of a fraction of a total number of said plies, said notches each extending throughout the width of a respective infolded gusset and along a line transversely of the bag and from the edges formed by the juncture of said gussets and said extending walls toward the center line of the bag throughout a portion of each of said extending walls for approximately the width of the gussets and thence to the open end of the bag, the end portion of said notched plies between said notches together with the unnotched plies being folded along said line to form a folded closure, and tape means extending over said folded closure from one bag face to the other and adhesively secured thereto for maintaining said folded closure.

6. In a multiple ply tubular bag structure having a closed end and an open end in which the tube is infolded at opposite portions to form gussets joined by extending walls, the closure comprising a pair of opposed approximately rectangular corner notches located in opposed faces of a fraction of a total number of said plies, said notches each extending throughout the width of a respective infolded gusset and along a line transversely of the bag and from the edges formed by the juncture of said gussets and said extending walls toward the center line of the bag throughout a portion of each of said extending walls for approximately the width of the gussets and thence to the open end of the bag, the end portion of said notched plies between said notches together with the unnotched plies being folded along said line to form a folded closure, tape means extending over said folded closure from one bag face to the other and adhesively secured thereto for maintaining said folded closure, a rip string extending lengthwise under the tape means and having a portion of said string protruding so as to allow the string to be pulled for ripping said tape.

7. In a multiple ply tubular bag structure having a closed end and an open end in which the tube is infolded at opposite sides to form gussets joined by extending Walls ,the closure comprising a pair of opposed approximately rectangular corner notches located in opposed faces of a fraction of the total number of said plies, said notches each extending throughout the width of a respective infolded gusset and along a line transversely of the bag and from the edges formed by the juncture of said gussets and said extending walls toward the center line throughout a portion of each of said extending walls of the bag for approximately the width of the gussets and thence to the open end of the bag, the end portion of said notched plies between said notches together with the unnotched plies being folded along said line to form a folded closure, and adhesive tape means extending over said folded closure from one bag face to the other and adhesively secured thereto for maintaining said folded closure, said tape means being folded into the gussets and adhesively secured to opposed inner faces of said gussets adjacent the folded closure.

8. In a multiple ply tubular bag structure having a closed end and an open end in which the tube is infolded at opposite portions to form gussets adjoined by extending walls, the closure comprising a pair of opposed approximately corner notches located in opposed faces of a fraction of a total number of said plies, said notches each extending throughout the width of a respective infolded gusset and along a line transversely of the bag and from the edges formed by the juncture of said gussets and said extending walls toward the center line of the bag throughout a portion of each of said extending walls for approximately the width of the gussets, and thence to the open end of the bag, the end portion of said notched plies between said notches together with the unnotched plies being folded along said line to form a folded closure and adhesive tape means extending over said folded closure from one bag face to the other and adhesively secured thereto for maintaining said folded closure, said tape means being extended beyond the bag edges and each side edge of said bag and adhesively secured in folded condition.

9. A multiple wall bag having at least two plies, said plies being infolded to form opposed spaced gussets joined by extending walls, said bag having a closed end and an open end, said bag being constructed so as to be folded over at the open end for closure thereof, said bag when in the unclosed condition being further characterized in that at least one ply thereof has rectangular notches, each extending throughout the width of a respective gusset, and through a contiguous area on each of said extending walls equivalent to the width of said gusset, said notches having a dimension longitudinally of the bag from said open end a distance sufficient that the portion of said extending walls between said notches, together with said unnotched walls can be folded over and secured for bag closure.

10. A multiple wall bag of the type set forth in claim 9 further characterized in that the bag has two plies, the outer ply being notched as defined.

11. A multiple wall bag of the type set forth in claim 9 further characterized in that the bag has four plies, the outer two plies being notched as defined in said claim.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,649,211 Bitzer Nov. 15, 1927 1,665,576 Witham Apr. 10, 1928 1,749,005 Taylor Mar. 4, 1930 1,821,207 Cornell Sept. 1, 1931 1,955,310 Powell Apr. 17, 1934 2,020,301 Cundall Nov. 12, 1935 2,073,222 Robinson Mar. 9, 1937 2,147,117 Bensel Feb. 14, 1939 2,197,490 Williams Apr. 16, 1940 2,234,065 Vogt Mar. 4, 1941 2,292,295 Royal Aug. 4, 1942 2,377,005 Haslacher May 29, 1945 2,382,573 Moore Aug. 14, 1945 2,524,030 Allen Oct. 3, 1950 2,527,073 Port Oct. 24, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS 546,782 Great Britain July 30, 1942 589,012 Great Britain June 9, 1947 

